We’ve put together 27 answers for you!
Many of our clients ask us this question. And you might assume that The English Center, like many language institutes, has preset courses for B1 to C2 learners, and depending on your level, that’s what you’ll study.
But fortunately, with our private, 1:1, customized approach, the answer to “What will I learn in my intensive English course?” depends on you and your specific learning goals, your work, your learning style, and your interests. The great benefit of tailor-made, private intensive 1:1 training is that YOU can choose which skills to focus on. For example, many clients want to work specifically on spoken English, perhaps reducing their accent; while others want to expand their vocabulary and improve their presentation skills.
Let our native-speaker trainers put you at the center of your own, bespoke English language course.
Drawing on our 15+ years experience of English training, we have developed the lists below to help you identify what you will learn during your intensive course. Of course, if you want to achieve the highest level of English fluency, C2 proficiency or “near native,” you will need competency in many of these skills. But as with all learning tasks, we understand that you can’t do it all at once.
So let’s get focused. Grab a notepad (digital or paper), a coffee, read through our list and check off which competencies are most important for you!
“The English language is like a jewel with many facets (skill sets). Put them all together, and you have something beautiful!”
Considering an intensive course? We offer a free intake where during our conversation, we can share a little advice on which of these skills might be most helpful for you. In your intake, we can discuss which of these skill sets will be the most beneficial for you.
Below is our concise list of some skill sets covered in our intensive course. Please note that these skills could be categorized other ways, so don’t worry about the categories. Just look for the items that you want to work on and let us put together the customized course that will deliver the best experience and results for you!
For many of us, second language training starts in school with grammar and a workbook. If you were lucky, you also watched English language TV sitcoms, went to the movies, and played English language video games. This combination of academic training and media immersion is a good way to get some solid skills “under your belt.” (=mastered). Of course, job-jargon always comes later, unless you watched “Grey’s Anatomy” and became a doctor ;-).
While these skills are also supported with academic training and media exposure, for many people, the quality of their spoken English is far below the quality of their grammar. We see many clients who struggle with spoken English fluency: from poor pronunciation to confusion about English language “music” (intonation), these clients need to SOUND better, especially at work.
For adults, there is nothing more important for your career than this category. Your colleagues will forgive you the occasional grammar error (they might not even notice it), but if you are a poor communicator, people may avoid you. If you can’t explain or describe what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, you may never get the promotions and respect you deserve. And if you want to take a leadership role, you can be sure that communication is job one.
In 2024, we often hear about the use of AI for everything from writing emails to academic papers. While AI use can range from handy and time-saving to unethical :-/ – you still need to know how to write in English. So don’t “write off” (=disregard) this skill. Find your “voice” in written English. And take note: Writing in a language is a great way to learn and remember vocabulary that you will use when reading, speaking and listening!
So, the answer to the question, “What will I learn in my intensive English course?” depends entirely on you—what you most need and want to develop. Whether it’s accent reduction, job-specific vocabulary, or conversational fluency, your 1:1 private course will be tailored to your goals and your learning style.
Author: Brenda de Jong-Pauley MA is the director of The English Center. Trained as a teacher and psychologist in the US, she loves helping people achieve a more native sound when speaking English.
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